2021

[conormeehan.]

“but i just kept filming”

Not long ago, director Denis Villeneuve made the bold claim that he “hates dialogue” in movies. This inflammatory (and frankly bizarre) statement was discussed in many film circles to try extrapolate what he truly meant by this. Does he really want “less talking?” His movies have plenty of talking, so that can’t be. As I sat watching “2021, ” I think realize what Villeneueve meant. He doesn’t think there should be less Tarantino’s making movies. He just wants more MaKenna Greene’s. And so do I.

“2021” takes the language of film and uses it to its advantage. One of the comments under the video says they’d love to read this as a poem; I understand the sentiment, but I disagree. If a picture captures a thousand words, then this already is a tome of grief, loss, and life.

This short film has a rattling emotional engine fueled primarily by its juxtaposition. Cut out the text and this is a triumphant montage of pretty pictures. Cut off the video and its a deeply tragic familial elegy. Put them together, and you have a messy, twisted, beautiful deconstruction of grief.

“feeling anger, ” she says while calming lying, half-submerged in tranquil water. “feeling confusion” while relaxing in a calm and sensical forest. “feeling despair” as she unabashedly dances to the music of a romantic sunset. Nothing makes sense, and of course it doesn’t. Her brother is gone. There is a numbness that comes from feeling too much. Grief is nothing less than a liminal and oxymoronic state of “experiencing nothing.”

There is much more to touch on: The Romantic use of nature, the psychological implications and interpretations, the emotional crescendo of the shoe-gaze (“Stratosphere” by duster, a great choice)…Perhaps I’ll return and dive in further soon. But for now, I feel that discussion isn’t enough.

This should be seen, heard, experienced, and, most of all, felt. This pinpoints the heart of where art and cinema meet: expressing one’s honest self through sight and sound.

Subscribed.

[melancholiclamb]

i feel like watching this is a privilege. thank you, this was outstanding. you have inspired me.

[brion_aiota]

God this is so fucking powerful. You've made something phenomenally touching. I don't think proud quite covers how he'd feel about this. Thank you for putting it out.

[deliadeacon]

the visual of the hand squeezing the rose thorns was so visceral, the whole thing is just remarkable. wow.

[AngelAparicio-gprc]

Sometimes you watch a video and think "yeah, this is what youtube was made for" a true expression of emotion. Beautiful.

[Vercydent]

Your ability to capture emotions is phenomenal. The feeling of inconsistent recovery is deeply resonating

[Tetrok_the_Teal]

He lives on in little ways, we all do. “Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everyone I’ve ever known.” — Chuck Palahniuk.

I am truly sorry for your loss. I know it doesn't and wont mean much from another random online, but from this video, from your clips of memories, I caught a glimpse of what he might've been like. Thank you for sharing and I hope you find it in you to make peace with it, one step at a time.

[kotten_smirnoff]

My big sister died exactly a month ago. Completely random avm bleed and immune complications. It was crazy how she went from fine to dying in about a day and half half. She was only 25.

I think about her every fucking second, and I can't fathom the fact that I'm here and she isn't.
It almost feels like a sign that this popped on my home page. It was enough for me to feel a bit ok, at least for a second, so thank you <3

[HauntingSeason]

No one ever knows when it will be the last time you see someone. I can tell your soul honors your brother. This is a remarkably powerful film. Really moving

[lotte]

this is seriously one of the most beautifully touching videos i have ever seen.

[rrrrr]

In 2020, I’ve lost my uncle, then my baby step brother, and grandpa within 3 months. 10 months later my grandma who raised me.
Being an Indigenous family, having that intergenerational trauma, but also using our hurt for good is something we are good at.
I’ve followed your work since 2021 and thank you for sharing. I’m sending you a hug my friend.

[elliotmiller]

Gut wrenchingly beautiful. I don’t know you but if my word means anything, i’m proud of how far you’ve come.

[jonah]

It doesn't get easier. We just learn to be easier on ourselves.






Thank you for this piece of art. It was truly beautiful.

[helloninihere]

Whoa. I want to read this as a poem. The repetition is powerful. Never stop creating this is something

[insanelyillmary]

7 minutes in heaven is the feel of this video. there is a lot that goes through the human mind. may we never know truly.

[nobodygnomes]

i’m sorry. you did not deserve this but you turned it into something thrilling in a sequence that i’m sure many will turn to when they need to someday. it’s truly special.

i viewed it not reading the first few captions and assuming the “he” being referred to was a father; then re-started it, realized it was your brother — then the caption of your father’s involvement came up and it was like a full, broken circle. it wasn’t the way you intended it to be seen but it threw me for a second and made me think. thank you again. ❤

[ohnoitsspider]

I’ve had the worst year of my life so far and I just wish I can be as strong as you and push through with this passion instead of rotting in this dark room on a bed with blankets I’ve stacked on top of each other instead of changing. All I want for 2025 is an urge to do more and escape not my feelings but the place I’ve put myself because of them. Thank you for this

[FlowWithRae]

Wow. What a work of art. Ive never seen grief so beautifully shown. Thank you for sharing your grief, I hope you have healed some❤️

[postalpost]

from one artist to another, nothing but compassion.

[cornnucopiaa]

You are truly held by the earth as you process heartbreaking circumstances.